Samajwadi Party legislator sacrifices animals at Assam temple

Guwahati, July 28 (IANS) A Samajwadi Party legislator from Madhya Pradesh, Kishore Samrite, Monday sacrificed two buffaloes and over a 100 goats at a famous Hindu temple here to seek divine blessings for the party leaders who lent support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The legislator performed the rituals at the temple of Mother Goddess Kamakhya amid protests from animal rights groups in the city.

“I have come here for blessings for my party leaders and to see that the nuclear deal (with the US) is signed without any hassles. Animal sacrifices here at Kamakhya is a tradition going on for centuries and I think there is nothing wrong in it,” Samrite told reporters.

Hindu priests performed a special ritual after sacrificing the animals.

“The Samajwadi Party legislator wants that his party prospers and wishes for his own well being,” said Chandan Sarma, a priest who performed the rituals.

Activists of People For Animals (PFA) staged a protest and filed a police complaint against Samrite for cruelty against animals.

“The animal sacrifices were nothing but violation of all ethical norms and we have filed a report against the legislator with the police,” said Sangeeta Goswami, a PFA activist.

The sacrifices are to continue till Wednesday, temple authorities said.